Apparatus for handling bricks in manufacturing same.



25 over by hand .is, employed.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFIGEU JONATHAN P. B. FISKE, OF NEXVTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

V APPARATUS FOR HANDLING BRICKS IN'MANUFACTURING SAM E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 633,955, dated September 225, 1899. Application filed September 6,1899. Serial No. 729,610. No model.)

of Newton, county of Middlesex, State'of Mas-j sach usetts, haveinvented an Improvement in Apparatus for Handling Bricks in the'Manu' factu re of the Same, of which the followingdescription, in connection with the accompany ing'drawings, is a speci fication, like letters'on the drawings representing like parts.

In order that my invention maybe properly understood, I deem it best to explain that-the manufacture of bricks as heretofore practiced has been comparatively slow and.

expensive, due largely to the fact that the handling of the bricks has required so muclr greatly according to their kind, whether common bricks, face, enamel, or fire bricks, and

according to the process of manufacture,

whether by the dry-press, stiff-mud, or

soft-mud, but in the case of all kinds and.

of all processes the same expensive system of handling each brick'separately over and Thus, for instance, in the manufacture of common bricks by the most improved methods the bricks are usually molded in a suitable brick-machine and piled one by one by hand on cars, which 0 when loaded are pushed by hand over tracks into a drier. When the bricks are sufficien tly dried, the loaded cars are then pushed each by two or three men over long tracks into the kilns, where the bricks are taken 'ofiand 5 passed by hand to the setter, who stacks them one by one intthe proper position for burning.

barrows or hand-trucks, taken thereon afew 0 at a time over long distances to the stock sheds, where they are removed and passed again by hand to the man on the stock-pile.

The immediate removal of the burned bricks from the kiln is often omitted where 5 the oldrfashioned updraft kiln (whosewalls are constructed of green bricks) is used,vas the cost of building up such a kiln is solittle that it is deemed more economical to buildnewkilns than to empty burned ones. In

They are taken from the stack after being burned, passed byhand to wheel= fuel for burning such a crude kiln, the large quantity of poor bricksobtained and the labor or building it anew for each burning render it desirable to use a permanent kiln of modern construction; but in such event it is necessary to remove by hand at once the burned bricks at a large expense in order that thekiln may again befilled with green bricks and burned. So great, however, is

,the costof hand labor inAmerica that common-brick manufacturers have been very slow to adopt the permaneutkiln, particularly what is known as the continuous kiln, which for years hasbeeu almost universally used in Europe, Where hand labor is cheap.

The continuous kiln, as is well known, requires only about one-thirdthe fuel of the old-fashioned kiln described above, but has been largely prohibited in this country by the extra labor of handling the burned bricks required: Furthermore, the various systems of handling bricks during the manufacture of the same at the present time involves so many distinct handlings and positions of the individual bricks, whether green or dried, that various internal lines or planes of structural Weakness are developed that subsequently appear in the completed bricks, rendering the latter inferior in quality, For instance, the frequent shifting of the individual bricks from one place to anotherfor ex ample; first onto the cars, then into the drier, and finally into the kilu-makes it practically impossible to preserve the respective bricks always in the same relation one to an other and to retain their original formation same bricks in further handling or piling are called upon to sustain loads at their middle points while themselves supported at their ends or if, as is frequently the case, by careless handling pieces of the green bricks are chipped oft and remain upon the supports for the bricks, causing some of. the lowest bricks to be held in inclined or tilting posi- I tiou, the entire stack will be thrown out of in small loosely-packed lots, I have found tends to weaken the same internally, usually by developing internal planes of weakness that during the burning are developed into open and exposed cracks as a rule, although frequently the burning opens the cracks beneath the surface, leaving them concealed at the surface by the harder outer skin of the bricks. In the first instance the exposed cracks developed from these planes of weakness render the bricks seconds and therefore inferior in quality and in selling price, while bricks of the last-mentioned kind go into the work unnoticed and as sound bricks, yet at some time, in case of accident, fire, or the like, when their greatest strength is needed, they fail by reason of these internal weaknesses, often causing great damage.

Recognizing the great cost attending systems heretofore pursued in the manufacture of bricks, the great loss due to exterior chipping by reason of the frequent handling of the same, and finally that less-recognized but equally-nu portant matter of the internal weaknesses developed in the bricks by improper and frequent handling, my present invention has for its object, mainly, the elimination of this frequent handling of the individual bricks either in their green or burned condition; and to this end myinvention, generally stated, consists in providing means for taking themolded clay or green bricks as they issue from the brick-making machine or immediately thereafter and building the same into what I call unit-stacks of detlnite dimensions and formation and thereafter maintaining these unit stacks intact either as so many separate unit-stacks or else in masses made up of a multiplicity of these unit-stacks throughout the entire process of completing the bricks. Thus the original formation of these unit-stacks may take place in the open air or where there is ample light and facility for stacking them accurately, so that at the very beginning of the operation and while they are yet in a green or soft condition they are stacked in such manner as to support one another in the best possible manner to resist unequal or improper pressures or strains, and by reason of the stack formation subsequent individual handling is avoided and consequent chipping. By maintaining these unit-stacks intact throughout the entire subsequent process of brick-making the original formations are maintained and the individual bricks are not subjected to frequently-changing pressures, loads, or

strains. In other words, they are dried and burned in precisely the same positions and under the same pressures and supported in the same manner as when originally stacked in their most green or soft condition and, moreover, are not subjected to chipping or other external damage due to the repeated handling of each brick, as heretofore. Thus absolute uniformityin structure of the bricks is maintained, and I find the quality of the same, both externally and internally, is much improved over bricks made in the ordinary and customary manner; also, the time required in themanufacture of the bricks is much reduced, cost is lessened, superior bricks are produced, and the Very desirable continuous kiln may be made use of, because of the facility with which the bricks previously piled in stack formations outside the kiln may be deposited bodily within the latter and likewise removed after burning, even at less cost than the building of the old form of kilns now so generally used.

Obviously and to the highest development of my invention the unit-stack formation of bricks originally formed while the bricks are in the soft or green condition are usually maintained not only through the kiln-drying, but subsequently when removed therefrom and piled in the yard or in the cars, thus saving in the handling of the bricks and insuring at all times protection to most, if not all, of the bricks in the stacks from mechanical injury and chipping.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a brick-yard shown in sufficient detail to make myinvention readily understood. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail in top plan, parts being broken away, showing the various features of construction of a chamber and of the adjoining parts of a kiln, together with certain special constructional details preferably employed in carrying out my invention. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section taken through a kiln-chamber, showing the bricks properly piled therein and the crane in position for removing the cover of the kiln. Fig. 4 isa vertical transverse section thereof, showing fur ther details of construction.

I will first explain the details of construction shown in the drawings and will then set forth more particularly the distinguishing characteristics of my system.

In Figs. 2 and 4 I have shown an entire chamber A of a continuous kiln and portions of adjacent chambers A A. Each chamber has at one side (herein shown for convenience as its left-hand side) a partition-wall a and a flash-wall a, separated sufficiently to provide a fire-box a between them extending the full length of the kiln-chamber, the flashwall terminating short of the top of the chamher to provide a passage a for the heat, smoke, the, and the partition at having at its bottom a plurality of flue-holes a. The kiln-chambers have a plurality of fine Walls or elevations a extending transversely thereof in a series from one end of the chamber to the ther,these flue-walls formingbetween them flues a and being spaced apart to correspond to the lengths of the bricks which are to occupy the kiln, so that when the bricks are laid on edge lengthwise across the fines end to end throughout the length of the chamber their ends will rest on the middle of the successive flue-walls, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

to In alinement with the fines a are perforations or rod-holes a. through the flash-walls a, and at the opposite sides of the kiln-chamher are liftin -beam its 0. extending ref-.

s P s P next and being made of any suitable material and in any suitable manner, preferably of hollow construction-tiles a, joined by tierods a, this construction being light and strong and well adapted for the purpose. At

*their opposite sides the'removable tops are provided with suitable lifting devices (herein shown as forks or straps or) hooking into the sides of the tops and provided with eyes 01- at their upper ends to receive the hooks a of the lifting apparatus.

I prefer to build the kilns in the earth, as

shown in Fig. 3, where it will be observed that the top of the kiln-chamber comes flush with the surface of the ground and the removable top lies normally slightly above the adjacent ground in position to be engaged by the crane, as will presently be described. This construction is relatively inexpensive, as it requires no bracing, and because of the solid abutting earth it retains the heat to the best advantage and withstands rough usage better than other forms of kilns. I have especially devised this form of kiln set in the earth, as stated, for the reason that it is of peculiar advantage in con nection with my systerm, as it euablesme to transport enormous masses of bricks with very little up-and-down movement, and it gives a firm steady foundation for the transporting-crane to travel upon.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the flues a and the pits a are occupied by the removable grill or platform on which the bricks are transported, it

I prefer to employ the supporting grill or platform described for the reason that it is exceedingly strong, economical, easily handled, and forms a convenient support upon which the original arrangement of the green bricks in unit-stack formation, where the bricks issue from the brick-machine, may be transported, thus forming a convenient support for maintaining thennit-stack formation of bricks in their transportation throughout the entire process of manufacture, including that of drying, to be described, and kilnburning, immediately under consideration. I do not intend, however, to limit myself to the particular platform herein shown on which the bricks may be transported, as described, for the reason that I believe myself to be the first to conceive of providing supporting means for fcarryin g a large number of bricks in stack formation into'a kiln, said supporting means being removable from the kiln without disturbing the stack formation of the bricks within the kiln, and in this connection I wish also to make it understood that I may employ various features of my invention in connection with modified or substituted apparatus, inasmuch as my invention is broadly new in many particulars, all as more particularly defined hereinafter in the claims, and many mechanisms differing in detail may be employed for carrying out my invention without departing therefrom.

I am aware that kilns have been constructed on the knockdown principle, in which the sides and tops were capable of being .taken.

apart and put together again, and I am aware that holes for depositing coal, &c., have been provided in the tops of kilns; but so far as I am aware there never has been heretofore a kiln constructed with a top which was rem ovable as such, it having been heretofore necessary in case it was desired to open a kiln at the top to break up the top entirely, thereby destroying it, or else to take it to pieces, as just mentioned, in which case nothing remained of the top but the original building materials of which it was built and which might then be used for building the sides or top or anyother part of a subsequent kiln or other structure. I provide flue-holes and rodholes, already described, in order that the rods orbars I) may be pulled out into the ad jacent empty kiln-chamber after the bricks are in place, as otherwise they would warp and rapidly deteriorate.

One very important feature of my invention resides in providing an overhead crane,prefer ably an electric crane, as shown at G, traveling on a track 0, running lengthwise of the kiln in position to bring the crane over the individual chambers, said track extending from near the drier to such distance out into 7 the yard as it is desired that the bricks shall be deposited when burned. The track 0 may extend along the ground, as shown, or be otherwise arranged in proper location in respect to the kiln K and extending out into the yard Y. I

The kiln is herein shown as a continuous kiln having a plurality of chambers, each like the one described, although it will be understood that I am not limited in respect to the general kind of kiln, the one herein shown having fourteen chambers. There are two tracks running parallel, one for each series of chambers, and each of these tracks will have its own electric crane, the crane not be ing herein shown in detail for the reason that any commercial crane may be employed, m herein indicating the motor from which opposite winding-drums m are operated for raising and lowering the hoisting-chains m and the crane containing other usual mechanism for causing it to travel in the direction required on its tracks.

As already explained, it is of great ad vantage and importance as to time, expense, and output to do away with the manual handling, and this holds true, although to a less extent, when my invention is employed in part only of its preferred and complete embodiment herein set forth, and therefore I do not intend to restrict myself necessarily to the use of the entire system, as for some purposes it is ad vantageous to use a part thereof' For example, the kiln and crane, &c., may be employed for handling the bricks in mass, as stated, even though the exigencies of the particular plant or situation make it preferable to remove the bricks from the carrying-platform instead of to remove the latter from the bricks.

I have indicated in a conventional manner at N a brick making or molding machine which may be of any kind desired, and running in usual manner in front of this machine is a track on which trucks or cars may travel for carrying the bricks. Upon these cars, brought successively into position with reference to the brick-machine N, are piled the green bricks, after they issue from the machine, in the original. unit-stack formations, that are to be preserved intact throughout the entire remaining process of manufacture of the bricks. This original stack formation may be conveniently and cheaply carried out at this point, where there is ample room and light and every means for insuring accuracy of work. unit-stack of bricks, are shown in front of the machine, and an empty car a ready to be put into loading position. These cars are or may be run onto a transfer-car n traveling on a cross-track n, and are delivered therefrom onto the transfer-tracks d, upon which the cars a, carrying their unit-stack formations of bricks, are run into the drier D, of usual construction, where the bricks are dried, still remaining in their original unit-stack forma-- tions. After the drying process has been completed and in accordance with my novel system the cars carrying these original unitstacks of bricks are run out from the drier Three loaded cars 41., each carrying its and, it may be, onto a transfer car or truck a traveling on a cross-track a, similar to the track it", and are preferably run into convenient positions, from which the individual unitstacks of bricks are transferred bodily and intact, without disturbing the stack formation or the relative arrangement of the individual bricks, upon sui table supports that I have designated as stations S S, conveniently arranged with reference to the kiln. In the drawings the former station is shown in Fig. 1 as unoccupied by bricks and the latter as carrying stacks of bricks ready for transfer to the kiln. The stations are formed in substantially the same way as the bottoms of the kiln-chambers-t. e. they have a series of elevations or low brick Walls 8 corresponding in general shape and arrangement to the fluewalls 61?, these walls being provided to receive the rods or bars Z) between them and the bricks upon them above said rods'or bars, the same as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 in connection with the kiln-chamber. The beams 19 will be rested on the ground or other support at the sides of the stations beneath the projecting ends of the bars or rods b, in the same relation thereto as shown in Figs, 2 and at. ,The walls 3 may be made of clay or of wood joists,'metal beams, or otherwise, being provided simply for the purpose of supporting the ends of the first layer of bricks the same as do the flue-walls already explained, and preferably they are carried on a hydraulic lift, (indicated at s, Fig. 1.) The first or bottom layer on the stations or supports S S is or may be composed of burned bricks c or other hard rigid substance which will withstand the action of the fire in the kiln in order to give proper support to the superpiled green bricks g and to receive the contact of the lifting rods or bars. This first or foundation layer of burned bricks e is carefully positioned on the Walls 8, said burned bricks being placed on edge with spaces between them to form riddles or openings through which the heat may pass into the kilnflues when the stack subsequently reaches the kiln.

'The unit-stacks of dry green bricks are transferred bodily from the car a into proper position upon the layer of burned bricks upon and forming, it may be, a part of the station S or S, and as many of these unit-stacks may be arranged side by side or superimposed one upon the other at these stations S S as may be necessary to build up a stack of suitable size to substantially fill the chamber of the kiln into which they are to be placed. Thus while the size of the entire mass or stack of bricks is increased, such increased stack or mass is made up of a multiplicity of the small unit-stacks still maintained intact, and after the drying the bricks in the unit-stacks are able to sustain the added weight due to the placing upon them of other unit stacks, whereas previous to drying they might not be thus able to sustain the increased weight.

When enough unit-stacks to fill a kiln or a section thereof, as desired, have been piled up at the station, the rods or bars I) are run under the burned bricks and between the brick walls 8 of the stations or supports S S", and then the main lifting-beams b are placed under the projecting ends of the rods or bars 1). Meanwhile the traveling crane G has been brought into position over the particular chamber of the kiln which is to be charged, and the lifting-bales a of the removable roof thereof have been engaged by the hooks a of the lifting-chains, and the entire roof of the kiln has been raised and carried away from the chamber. Then the crane is brought over the station on which the large stacks have been formed, and the hooks a of the crane-lifting chains are caught into the stirrups b of the respective lifting-beams, and the entire mass of accurately-stacked spaced bricks is lifted bodily and transported to the kiln by the overhead traveling crane and is lowered into the kiln until the burned bricks rest at their ends on the edges of the finewalls, the lifting-rods 13' passing down between the fiue-walls into the fines a The weight of the bricks is thereby removed from the rods. The rods b are drawn out transversely to the kilnchamber through the openings (herein called for convenience flueholes and rod-holes) in the partition-wall and flash-wall, respectively, into the empty kiln-chamber adjacent, and then when all the rods 1) have been drawn out the main liftingbox or boxes may be properly directed. The

heat and gases pass over the flash-Wall and are drawn downward through the open tortuous passages'in the stacked bricks,- passing through the riddles formed by the layer of burned bricks into the dues a, thence through the fines a and out through the fiue'holes a,

up through the fire-box a of the next kiln and over its baffle or flash wall a, and so on, according to the number of chambers of the continuous kiln which may be occupied. After the bricks are burned and the chamber has sufficiently cooled the cover is taken ed, the main lifting-beams are lowered into the pits, the rods are pushed into the fines through the rod-holes and fine-holes from the adjacent empty kiln, and when all are in place each under a row of burned bricks and the cranechains have been secured to the lifting-beams the whole mass is lifted by means of the lifting-beams and overhead crane and is carried in one body without disturbance to the stockyard Y, where it is lowered into final positionnpon brick walls or Wood beams arranged to support the ends of the burned bricks precisely as already explained in connection with the kiln. Thereafter, if desired, the bricks may be transferred, still in mass and without disturbing the original unit-stack formation, to the cars or other means of transportation.

From the above description it will be readily evident that a greatsaving of time and labor is accomplished. Also, the old way of handling the bricks was apt to mutilate the green bricks considerably, due to wheeling or trucking them into the kiln and passing them through-so many handling operations before burning. Also, much damage is done to the "burned bricks by passing them by hand to Wheelbarrows, wheeling them to the stockyard, and passing them to the stock-piles, Whereas my system obviates all this.

The commercial advantages of my invention are of the greatest importance, as they make it feasible to accomplish practically all the transportations of the bricks in the yard with one stacking thereof, and, moreover, it is of great consequence from a commercial standpoint to be enabled to handle the bricks in such large masses, my system enabling me to transport twenty to fifty or more tons of bricks into the kiln, out again,"an.d to the stock-yard without any inconvenience ,and with a very small amount of expense.

In operating separate kilns under the old methods the removing of the burned bricks from the kiln and the refilling with unburned bricks requires several days time. Moreover, the removing cannot be commenced until the kiln has well cooled, as the men are obliged to enter it and work in it, while, in addition, a considerable waste of heat takes place; but my improved system enables the bricks to be taken out while yet very hotand a charge of unburned bricks to be put in and the fires reapplied all in a few minutes time, thereby not only saving a great deal of time, but saving also a large'amount of heat and resulting in a large increase of efficiency and capacity of the kilns. Thus with my apparatus a yard with, say, six kilns will produce as many bricks ina season as a yard with, say, ten kilns under the old system.

I do not intend to limit my invention other wise than as hereinafter expressed in the claims, and it will be understood that while I prefer to employ all the apparatus above described, yet many advantageous results maybe obtained by employing various parts of the apparatus asidefrorn the whole there of, and also certain features of my invention may be employed in other connections and other devices may be substituted for certain parts of the apparatus, all within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. In an apparatus for the manufacture of bricks, a kiln, and supporting means for carrying a large number of bricks in stack formation into the burning-chamber of the kiln,

said supporting means being removable from supporting engagement with the bricks without disturbing their said stack formation, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus for handling bricks during their manufacture, a kiln having an opening in its top, a movable support outside of said kiln for carrying a large number of green bricks stacked in regular formation for bu rning, lifting mechanism for bodily raising said support and the stack of bricks thereon and moving the same to said kiln and lowering said support and bricks into the kiln, means in the kiln for sustaining said stack of bricks independently of said movable support and without interfering With the original stack formation thereof, and means for Withdrawing said movable support from supporting engagement with said bricks during-the burning operation, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus for handling bricks d uring their manufacture, a kiln having an opening in its top, a movable support outside of said kiln for carrying a large number of green bricks stacked in regular formation for burning, lifting mechanism for bodily raising said support and the stack of bricks thereon and moving the same to said kiln and lowering said'support and bricks into the kiln, means in the kiln for sustaining said stack of bricks independently of said movable support and Without interfering with the original stack formation thereof, means for withdrawing said movable support from supporting engagement with said bricks during the burning operation, and means for reengaging said movable support with said bricks after the latter have been burned and for removing the same in their original stack formation from the kiln, substantially as described.

at. An apparatus for the manufacture of bricks,includinga kiln forburning the bricks, carrying means for transporting a large number of bricks in stack formation, said means including a plurality of separated parts each engaging a series of said bricks, devices for lowering said carrying means and the bricks thereon into the kiln, and means for removing said carrying means from engagement with said bricks without disturbing said stack formation thereof, substantially as described.

5. A brick-yard having a brick-kiln, a station outside said kiln constructed for supporting the bricks in stack formation, and a transporting device for transporting bricks when arranged in stack formation from one to the other of said station and kiln, said station and kiln each being constructed to permit effective engagement of the said transporting device with the said stack formation of bricks that rest upon said station or kiln, substantially as described.

6. A brick-yard having a brick-kiln, a station outside said kiln constructed for supporting the bricks in stack formation, and a transporting device for transporting bricks when arranged in stack formation from one to the other of said station and kiln, said station and kiln each being constructed to permit engagement of the said transporting device with the said stack formation of bricks that rest upon said station or kiln, and to permit removal of said transporting device after deposit of said stack of bricks, substantially as described.

7. A kiln having one or more kiln-chambers constructed to be charged and discharged through the top only, and a movable cover or covers closing the tops of said chambers and supported by the kiln and permitting the deposit of the bricks in or removal of the same from said chamber or chambers, substantially as described.

8. In an apparatus for manufacturing bricks, a kiln having a removable and replaceable top supported by the kiln and means fortransporting to and lowering into the kiln through the top opening thereof the green bricks which are to be burned, substantially as described.

9. In an apparatus for manufacturing bricks, a kiln having an opening in its top, a station outside-the kiln Whereon the green bricks are stacked and means for lifting the said stacked bricks from said station and transporting and depositing them in the kiln through the opening.

10. The combination with a kiln or kilnchamber constructed to be filled and discharged through its top, of a removable support to receive a stack of bricks to be deposited in or removed from the kiln, and a movable cover or coversfor the kiln, permitting the deposit in the kiln and the removal therefrom of said support with its said stack of bricks, substantially as described.

11. A brick-yard having a brick-kiln, a station outside said kiln, and a removable bricksupport, said station and said kiln being formed and arranged to receive said'removable support for the transportation by means of said support of a stack of bricks piled thereon from said station into said kiln, c0mbined with a track leading from said station to said kiln, and an overhead crane traveling on said track for carrying said support and bricks between the station and kiln, substantially as described.

12. A brickyard havinga stock-yard, akiln, and a stacking-station, combined with a movable brick-support for carrying a large mass of bricks, opposite parallel rails including said station, kiln, and yard between them, and an overhead crane traveling on said rails for carrying large masses of bricks piled on said movable support from said station into said kiln, and from the kiln to said stock-yard, substantially as described.

13. Abrick-yard havingakiln, a removable top for said kiln, a track adjacent the kiln, an overhead traveling crane to run on said track, in position for removing said removable top, and a movable brick-support to be engaged by said crane for carrying a large mass of bricks for depositing the same in said kiln, substantially as described.

5 14, A brick-yard,havi ngakiln, containing one or more burning-chambers constructed to be charged and discharged through their tops only, one or more movable covers for said burning-chambers, combined with an overhead traveling crane and its track arranged adjacent said kiln, said crane furnishing the means for handling said movable cover or covers and for charging or'discharging said kiln through the open-tops of the chambers thereof, substantially as described.

. 15. A brick-kiln having flat top walls, and a removable cover extending from wall to Wall, and having a flat under side at said 7 Walls to rest down upon the latter for closing the kiln, combined with means for entirely removing said cover for opening the entire top of the kiln, substantially as described.

16. Abrick-kiln supported at its side by the solid earth and having its top substantially flush with the adjacent surface of the earth, a removable top for said kiln supported by the kiln-walls and means for heating the kiln, substantially as described.

17. The herein described apparatus for o transporting bricks in large masses, comprising a removable support having lifting means to be engaged by an overhead crane, a layer of burned bricks arranged over said support for the bricks to be stacked upon which it is desired to transport,.an overhead crane, a.

track therefor for transporting the support and entire mass of bricks, and a fixed support for a mass of bricks constructed to permitremoval of said removable support from the brick mass when placed on said fixed support,

substantially as described. I 18. A brick-kiln having its bottom composed of a series of flue-walls spaced apart to support the ends of bricks laid thereon, fines 5 or passages between said walls, and ,pits extending transversely to said flues at the ends thereof, substantially as described.

19. A brick-kiln provided with a removable top supported by the kiln and having its bottom composed of a series of flue-Walls spaced apart to support the ends of bricks laid thereon, leaving fines or passages between said walls and beneath the bricks laid thereupon, substantially as described.

20. A brick-kiln having its bottom composed of a series of flue-walls spaced apartto receive the ends of bricks laid lengthwise thereon, fines or passages between said walls, pits extending transversely to said dues at the ends thereof, and openings or holes through the walls of the kiln or between adjacent chambers thereof in line with said dues or passages, substantially as described.

21. fAbrick-kiln having at each side a partition-wall and a flash-wall separated to form a fire-box between them, the flash-wall being lower than the partition-wall, fines extending across the bottom of the kiln, flue holes through the bottom of said partition-walls, and rod-holes through the bottoms of the flashwalls, said rod-holes and flue-holes being in alinement with the said flues, substantially as described. V p

22. Abrick-kiln having at each side a partition-wall and a flash-wall separated to form a fire-box between them, the flash-wall being lower than the partition-wall, tines extending across the bottom of the kiln, longitudinal pits at each side of the kiln-chamber extending below said lines, flue-holes throngh the bottoms of said partition-walls, and rod-holes through lZ-lIGbOiiljOlHS of the flash-walls, said rod-holes and flue-holes being in alinement with the said fines, substantially as described.

23. The herein-described brick-support for transporting a mass of bricks, comprising opposite liftingbeams and transverse sepaprising opposite lifting-beams, and a pluralrately-movable carrying bars or rods sup ity of transverse carrying bars or rods sup ported by said beams, combined with a plurality of Walls or elevations shaped and arranged to occupy the spaces between said beams and said bars, and to extend above the same for receiving. the bricks stacked thereon, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name tothis specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

- JONATHAN P. B. FISKE.

Witnesses Gno. H. MAXWELL, O. A. NEALE. 

